This newsletter includes:
- Pesticides residues in food: The safety issue (1)
- Update Test Application Form
- Free Trial and Promotion Coupon
Food and regulation enquiry, Please contact:
May Leung
Tel：(852) 2606 7178
Fax：(852) 2310 2990
Mobile：(852) 9106 6761
Email: may.leung@chemlab.hk
CHEMICAL LABORATORY REGIONAL BRANCHES
Address:
Room 2001-2, 20/F, Trendy Centre, 682-684 Castle Peak Road,
Lai Chi Kok, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Comprehensive Food Testing Services
• Microbiological analysis
• Chemical analysis
• Heavy Metals
• Organochlorine Pesticides Residues tests
• Preservatives and Additives
• Artificial Colouring
• Nutrition Labeling analysis (7+1)
• Genetically Modified Organism (GMO)
• Accelerated Shelf Life
• Food Safety testing – DNA detection |
 |
|
Pesticides residues in food:
The safety issue (1)
Food, provide nutritional support for the body, is essential for life. Meanwhile, fruit and vegetables are an important part of healthy eating. In order to have a balanced and healthy diet, it is suggest people to consume at least one serve of fruit and two serves of vegetables daily. Pesticides are widely used in food production and it plays an important role in protecting food crops from insects and fungal diseases. Due to the presence of residues of pesticides in both raw and processed fresh produce and possibly these residues can enter into the food chain, consumers has started to alert and concern and they ask: “Are these food safe to eat?”.
What are pesticides?
A pesticide is any substance or a mixture of substances used to kills, suppress, repel or control various types of pests. It can be derived naturally or synthetically produced substance. Pests can be an organism, such as insects, snails, rodents, weeds, birds, algae, fungi, bacteria or viruses, which is harmful to either human, plant or the environment. There is a common misconception which the term pesticides is sometimes wrongly described as insecticides only, however, it covers not only insecticides, but also herbicides, fungicides, rodenticides and other types of substances which are used to control or killing pests.
What are the types of pesticides?
These are the common types of pesticides which are classified according to their type of pest control:
1. Fungicides are used to control, destroy, or regulate the effect of a fungus.
2. Herbicides are used to kill, suppress or prevent the spread of a weed or other unwanted vegetation.
3. Insecticides are used to kill insects and the feeding of plant by insects.
4. Rodenticides are used for controlling rodents such as mice and rats.
5. Molluscicides are used to kill snail and slugs.
According to the mode of action, chemical pesticides can be classified as:
1. Organochlorines
-
Its toxicity is largely due to the disturbing the neuronal membrane of the nervous system and cause stimulation of the central nervous system.
-
Its slow degradation and subsequent bioaccumulation nature, it could build up to harmful levels in the body as well as in the environment
-
It has been banned to use.
-
Examples:
- Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and analogues (Dicofol, Methoxychlor)
- Hexachlorocyclohexane (Benzene hexachloride) and isomer (Lindane and Hexachlorocyclohexane)
- Cyclodienes (Chlordane, Heptachlor, Aldrin, Dieldrin, Endrin, Endosulfan, Isobenzan)
- Chlordecone
- Kelevan
- Mirex
- Toxaphene.
2. Organophosphates
-
Its toxicity is done by inhibiting the enzyme (acetylcholinesterase) in the nerve system which normally functions to degrade neurotransmitter (acetylcholine) in nerve synapses
-
Inhibition of the enzyme in the nerves results in a buildup of neurotransmitter and cause overstimulation of the receptors in nerves.
-
Examples:
- Chlorpyrifos
- Parathion
- Diazinon
- Famphur
- Phorate
- Terbufos
- Malathion
3. Carbamates
4. Pyrethroids
With above introduction, hope you can know more what pesticides are and how they affect our health. Hence, the Government has enforced the Pesticide Residues in Food Regulation (Cap 132 CM) (the Regulation) on 1st Aug 2014 to facilitate effective regulatory control of pesticide residues in food and better protect public health. We will talk more the regulation in next newsletter. Please wait…………………..
References:
1. http://www.labmate-online.com/news/news-and-views/5/breaking_news/how_are_pesticide_residues_detected_in_food/31009/
2. http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/about/types.htm#type
3. http://www.healthline.com/health-news/aging-pesticide-exposure-tied-to-parkinsons-risk-020314
4. http://www.fehd.gov.hk/english/safefood/pesticides.html
|